Slide fastener stringer tape



Aug. 13, 1946. N. J. POUX 2,40,02

SLIDE FASTENER STRINGER TAPE Filed Feb. 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Nbel PolZx,

BY v ATTOR EY.

Aug. 13, 1946..

N. J. POUX SLIDE FASTENER STRINGER TAPE Filed Feb. 2, 1942 2'Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEZNTOR N l/J; Baum,

locking members.

Patented Aug. 13, 1946 UN-FEED STATES PATENT QEFICE SEEDEJFASTENEB STRINGER TAPE Noel J. Poux, Mea'dville, Pa., assigncr 'to'Talon, Ina, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 2, 1942,:Serial1No.429231 GClaims.

Thi invention relates to slide fasteners and, in particular, to'the provision of new and improved slide fastener stringer tapes.

The stringers of slide fastenerscomprise tapes each having --a beaded or reinforced edge upon which is secured a row of closely spaced inter- A pair'of these tapes, connected at least at -,one end, and-provided with a cam-likedevice-known asa slider supported slida'ely on the rows of interlocking fastener memhers, .form aslide fastener. Sliding movement of the slider progressively engages and disengages the fastener members to connect and disconnect the-stringers for closing andopening the fastener. The tapes are usually connected --adj'acent the lower ends of the irows of interlocking fastener members, and means -is usually-provided at the upper ends of the rows -of interlocking fastener members to limit upward movement of the slider andrmaintain it on the :rows of fastencr members.

Tliebottorn-end connection may be a regular bottom stop-fixed toprovide-permanent connectionof the lower stringer ends, or it may comprise a separable end fitting, well known'inthe art.

Fcrinstance, in Figp-l, -I have illustrated a fastener comprising-a pair of stringer tapes-58 with reinfcrcedinner edgeportions 5! having rows of interlccking'fastener members 52 secured tc the reinforced inner edge portions 5!. ,Top steps 53 aresecured to the reinforcededges 5i adjacent theupper end .of-each row-of interlocking fastener members 52! and'a conventionalb-ottom stop 5 secured to the reinforced edges 5i adjacent the lower'ends of the rows of interlocking fastenermembers secures these tapes together at their lower ends.

The slider 5:5 is supported bystherows ofiinteriocking Jiastener members "52 "and functions progressivelyto close'thefastener by engaging or meshing the interlocking fastener members 52 when it is drawnaway from thebottom stop 54 toward the top stop 53, While progressively disconnecting or unmeshing the interlocking fasten'er member 52 when moved in the .opposite direction, withrcspect to 'the'tapeto openthe' fastener.

Forreascns well knownin theart-itis desirable to provide stringer tapes with acurvature, or fixed radius, whereby the reinforced or beaded edge portion of thestringer tape, which supports the interlocking fastenermemhers, is of less :length than the other, or outer, edge portion of the stringer tape, Whichlatteredge portion, onathird ierential tensions, by "the loom, upon the constituent tape threads. r

The interlacings or, in other words, the points Wherethe adjacent weft threads cross are more concen-tratedin.theregion-along one edge of the tape. That is to say, suchcrossing-s are greater in number per .unit of area or -per unit of length along the outer edge wofthe tape, thereby providing a greater pile-up of the weft threads along that edge than in other portions of the tape,

whereby the-tape 'in'its natural condition will assume a curve due to the fact-.that the greater pile-:up-of the weft threads inthis-outer area or edge portion tends to lengthen the outer edge of the tape. The term ipile up as-usedherein, meansthe positioning of' succeeding weft threads in sideby side-relatioma termwellrknown tothose skilledin-the artoi weaving. It will be understoodthat :the greater the "pile-up, the greater is the :overall width of any particular group of weft threadslmeasuredlengthwisecf the tape).

In addition to the above variationinthetape weave from side to side of the tape, 1 optionally, weave into the tape a pluralityof laterally spacedlongitudinal cords orwarp cords of relativelygreatdiameten'which cordsfcrm a sewlllg. guide unaffected-by dyeing or other treatment and which aid in sewing "a fastener into a garment .orthe like, which cords also zone the tape width or divide it into various zones having dilTerent weaves, and which cords impart to thestringer tape substantial tensile strength and durability Withoutsubstantially impairing the flexibility of the-tape because of the relatively great transverse spacing of these cords.

'Sincethe-diameter of these War-p cords is'substantially greater thanthat of the warp threads in the 'tape, adjacent '(over and under) "Weft threads passin over these cords are more-nearly perpendicularto one another than similar weft threads passingover the smaller warp threads.

Thus :thewarp cords accentuate-or exaggerate the curvaturerof the-tapellessening or shorteningthe .fixed radius) since the packing 'ortelescoping tendency of adjacent (over and under) weft threads lessens as they approach 90 degrees with respect to one another, thereby resulting in a greater pile-up of the weft threads against each other in the vicinity of these warp cords. In other words, the combined width of a pair of such adjacent weft threads at the point of crossing or interlacing (measured lengthwise of the tape) increases as the angle between them (measured through the plane of the tape perpendicular thereto) increases, and it naturally follows that the pile-up of the weft threads increases as such angle increases. I

These warp cords, as well as the warp and weft threads of the tape, are preferably of the same material throughout the tape, not abnormally twisted and are woven at normal weaving tension, whereby the fixed radius is permanent and substantially unaffected by wetting, dyeing, drying, heating, or other treatment. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the longitudinal cords in achieving the above-described guiding function is permanent, independent of color, and unaffected by subsequent dyeing, bleaching or other like treatments to which the tape may be subjected.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 isa plan view of a slide fastener having stringer tapes embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic plan view of a fragment of stringer tape constructed according to this invention;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the first pick or course of the weave shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing the second pick of the weave;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the third pick of the weave;

Fig. 6 is a weave similar to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, but showing the fourth pick of the weave; and

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, but taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2, identical with Fig. 3, and showing the recurrence of the first pick after the fourth pick of the weave.

While the principles of this invention are readily applicable to fastener stringer tapes made of various materials, of widely varying specifications, and with interlocking fastener member supporting edges reinforced in various ways as, for instance, by edge reinforcement cords sewed on opposite sides of the tapes adjacent the inner edge, I have herein illustrated one embodiment of my invention embodying woven-in cord edge reinforcements.

In this embodiment, illustrated in Figs. 1-7, the tape is provided at its inner, fastener member supporting edge, with a reinforcement comprising six woven-in longitudinal cords I, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, three at each side of the tape, the cords I, 2 and 3 at one side having a right-hand twist and the cords 4, 5 and 6 at the other side having a left-hand twist, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 3, This tape is also provided with four longitudinal warp cords l, 8, 9 and I0 which divide the tape transversely into three zones, two of these cords 9 and Ill being located adjacent one .another at the outer edge of the tape to secure ill) desired strength and extreme length per unit (by number) of weft threads or picks. The weaves in the respective zones are varied in order that the length per unit (by number) of weft threads or picks shall increase substantially progressively from the inner to the outer edge of the tape.

In addition to the above described ten reinforcing cords or warp cords I-IiL-the tape includes 24 warp threads designated 1 i-34 inclusive. The first eight of these warp threads (II-I8) are disposed in the inner zone of the tape, which zone is defined by the inner edge reinforcement formed by cords I-6 at one side and the longitudinal warp cord 1 at the other side. Seven of these warp threads (IQ-25) are disposed in the intermediate or neutral zone between warp cords 1 and 3 and the remaining nine of these warp threads (26-454) are disposed in the outer zone between the warp cord 8 and the outer edge reinforcement formed by the warp cords 9 and Ill.

The main function of the inner zone (which includes the inner edge reinforcing bead comprising the six woven-in cords I, v2, 3, l, 5 and 6) is to support the interlocking fastener members securely while at the same time permitting substantial freedom and flexibility in order that they shall mesh and unmesh with least strain upon the tape and with least resistance to meshing and unmeshing.

The main function of the outer zone of the tape is to provide an extension for the inner zone making manipulation of the stringers convenient and aiding in attachment to garments and the like while, at the same time, functioning to maintain an inherent fixed radius in the tape whereby the inner zone or inner edge portion shall be shorter than the outer zone or outer edge portion.

The function of the intermediate or neutral zone is to provide connection between the active inner and outer zones as well as to provide a portion of the tape particularly adapted to receive the stitches securing the tape to a garment or support. In addition, a further and'important function of the intermediate or neutral zone is to provide an intermediate portion shorter than both the outer zone and inner zone in order to maintain sufficient fullness in the inner zone to achieve desirable flexibility of the interlocking fastener members whereby to protect them against destructive strains tending to remove them or impair the security of their attachment to the tape, or cause damage to the tape adjacent the reinforced inner edge thereof. Thus, in each series of four picks in the illustrated embodiment, there are eight interlacings in the inner zone as will hereinafter most clearly appear, while there are but seven interlacings in the intermediate or neutral zone and twelve interlacings in the tape radius maintaining uter zone of the tape.

It is, of course, to be understood that where the fastener is of extremely small size and the strains to which it is subjected are extremely slight, the weaves may be changed to make the sum of the interlacings in each series of picks uniformly progressive from the inner edge to the outer edge, of the tape, as, for instance, to provide eight interlacings in the inner zone, ten interlacings in the intermediate or neutral zone and twelve interlacings in the outer zone of the tape. This secures ultimate flatness of the tape and freedom from puokering or rufiling in the inner zone.

The tape is woven from a continuous Weft the second, intermediate "or neutral :zone. "weft-threadthen passes-over the reinforcement v cor'd T and-under the-'warp'threads l8, l5, I4 and thread .2 generally :designated :40 :and, :since :each of the repeated units of the weaveiormedof four :picks or. courses, .these .picks for 1 courses are designated-4l, )42, 43.and.44. The firstipick is :designatedi tl :'(Figs.: 3 ..and 7). the second isdesignatedAZ l(Fig. .4) the third is designated 43 ('Fig..-'5) rand the ffourth .pick is designated :44 (Fig. .6), the first .pick Al recurring after .the 'fourthpickA4, as shown in Figs. 2and 7.

.The weave-of the-firstpick fl is shownin Fig. 3. This weave -isgenerally over one and .under :one throughout and the weft thread :40 :passes under the outeredge reinforcement cord HI, over the outer edge reinforcementeord' 9,:then under each-of -the warp threads 34, 3 2, 39, 28 and 26 andover the alternate warp threadstii, '3l, 29

- and 21. inthezouter zone. The weft thread then passes over the reinforcement cord 8 and .thence under-the warp threads 25,-23, 2| "and 9 and 'over the alternate warp-threads: 2-4, '22 an'd 'ZU in The 42 "and over the alternate warp threads [7, 15, 18 :and H in the inner or fastener member-sup- "porting zone. The --weft thread thenpasses over thecor'd 3,=under'cor'd 2=and over cord -l in the ibea'd "ofthe reinforced inner edge.

lathe-second piek 42, as shownin-Fig. 4, the

weave is "generally -"-over two and under two.

The weft thread 40 passes over the edge reinforcement'cordl, under: cord and over-cord 6 in the bead. Thence it passes over the warp thread- H, under threads 12 and I3, over warn threads ll'and l5, under warp threads-ISand-H 'and overwarp threadlflin theinner zone. The weft-thread then passes overthe cord! and under "warp-threads |9=and 2il,-over warp threads 2| "and 22; underwarp threads '23- and: 24 and thence over warp=thread 25 in the intermediate or neutral =zone. 'Thence the weft thread passes over the reinforcement cord 8 andthen under warp threads -26 and 21,-over warp threads 28 and 29, under'warp-th-readsefl and 3 I, over warp threads 32 and a'iflgandthence-under warp-thread "34 in "the outer zone. The-we'ft-thread then passes over the reinforcement cord '9 and under the rein- "forcementwzord i I'll.

*ln the third pick 4-3, 'as shownin Fig. 5, the "weave is generally over and under oneas in the first pick. The weft thread 40 passes around and'over the outer edge reinforcement *cord and under the reinforcement cord 9, thenceo-verand under alternate-warp threads in the outer zone or, in other words, over warp *th-reads -34, 32; 3 .1, 28 and 26 and under the alternate warp threads 33, "3 I, '29 and 2-! in the outerzone. The weft thread'then passes under the reinforcement cord 8' and over one and under one throughout'the intermediate or-neut-ral zone, passing over and under alternate warp 'threadsin the 'neutral zone, that is, over warp threads 25, 23, '2! and"!!! and-under the alternate *warp threads 24, 22 and 2!]. The weft thread then passes'under thereinforcement cord 1 and -over 'and under-alternate warp threads in the inner zone'or, inotherwordsover warp threads l8, 16, 14 and 1-2 and under the alternate-warp threads 11, I5, l3 and II. Thence, inthis third pick 43 the weft thread 40 extends from-under the warp thread :I I 'over 'cord a under cordZ and over :cord .1 in the bead.

.In:the;fourth"pick 4.4,f'flSTShQW1'1 in Fig. 6, the .weave:isgenerally over :two and under :two, as

.in-the-secondpick. Theweft thread :40extends 6 :from .under :the word I :around and v.imder .the nerd- 4, zovericord .and. under 0016115 ;in the lbead.

.;It zextends .thence .under .the warp :thread I,

over warp. threads .1 2 .and 113,:underwarp threads J4 and .15, zover warp threads 16 :and 11, and under .warpthread 1.8 in the inner zone. Thence :the weft thread passes under the reinforcement qicordfhand over warp threads I9 and 20, under warp threads iZ hand 22, over warp threadsZt and zll and underxwarp thread 25 in :the intermediate -:or neutra1 zone. 'Thencethe weft threa'd'passes under the reinforcement-cord 8 and over warp threads 26 and 21, under warp threads 2-8 and 29, over warp threads 30 and 3!, under warp threa'ds 32 and 33, and over warp thread 34 in the :outer *zone. The weft thread then passes under outer edge reinforcement cord 9 and over the outer edge reinforcement cord W, *as shown inFig. 6.

The first pick 4! then recurs since the weft thread-then passes around and under the outer edge reinforcement cord 10, over outer "edge reinforcement=cord ,9 .and under warp threads'st, 32, 30, 28 and 26 and over the alternate warp threads33f3L'Zitand 21in the outer zone. 'The weft thread then passes over the reinforcement cord 8 .and-under'warp threads 25, 2:3, 21 and t9 and .overthe alternate warp threads .24, 22 and .210 in the intermediate or neutral zone. Thence .the .weft .thread .40 passes over the reinforcement cord 1 and under warp threads !8. 4.6, 14 .and 1.2 .and over alternate warp threads .11, 15,113 and. in theinner zone. The thread then passes over the-inner edge reinforcement .cordra, undercordz andover and-around cord 4, asshown .inEigs. 3 and '7-Whereupon theses- .ond pick recurs followedby thethird pick, then the. fourthpick, etc.

.Asindicatedin FigsA-T inclusive by the sym- ..bol X, between the first and second picks .(Eig. .4) .twointerlacingsoccur in the inner zone. 1i. ..e.,.one between warp threads 1-3 and t4 and .theother/between warp threads Ilfl and Ht. Like- -wise,.in. theintermediateor-neutral zone two in- .ter1acings--o.cour,.-onebetween warp threads 2!! and .2! and .theother-between warp threads 24 .and .215. .In the outer zone two interlacings oc- .cur,.one between the warp threads 21 and 23 andzthe other hetweenwarp threads 3! and 32.

.Asshown .injfig. .5, between the second and third.picks two interlacings occur in the inner zone, one inthe intermediate or-neutral zone and .four .in the :outerzone. In the inner zone the .i-nterlacings occur between the warp-threads H andtwo in .the outenzone. -.In.the inner zone the 'interlacings occur between warp threads .I3 and I4 and'between warp'threads i1 and I8. Inithe intermediate .or neutral zone theinterlacingsoc- 'cur'between'warp threads 20 and'2l and 'be- *tween warp threads "24 and '25. In the outer zone the interlacings occur "between warp threads '2'! and -2-8 andbet-ween warp threads 3| and 32.

As-shownfin Figfl, between the fourth pick 44 and recurring first pick 41, two interlacings occur in the inner zone, two in the intermediate or neutral zone and four in the outer zone. In the inner zone the interlacings occur between warp threads II and I2 and between warp threads and It. In the intermediate or neutral zone the interlacings occur between the reinforcement cord I and warp thread l9 and between warp threads 22 and 23. In the outer zone the inter- ,lacings occur between the reinforcement cord 8 and warp thread 26 and between warp threads 29 and 30, between warp threads 33 and 34, and between warp thread 34 and reinforcement cord 9.

From the above it will clearly appear that in each series of four picks the number of interlacings occurring in the inner zone between the bead and the reinforcement cord 1 is:

2(Fig. 4) +2(Fig. 5) +2(Fig. 6) +2(Fig. '?)=8 Likewise, the number of picks occurring in the intermediate or neutral zone is:

2(Fig. 4)+1(Fig. 5) +2(Fig. 4) 2(Fig '7) :7

And the number of interlaoings occurring in the outer zone is:

Thus, since there are more interlacings in the outer zone than in the inner zone the length per unit of picks is greater in the outer than in the inner zone and the tape, by this weave, is given an inherent fixed radius or curvature which will not be affected by wetting, drying or dyeing. Because there are no differential stresses in the weave, shrinkage will be substantially uniform throughout and will not affect this curvature. It is also to be noted that three interlacings occur in the outer edge reinforcement in each series of picks, namely, none between the first and second pick (Fig. 4), one between the second and third pick (Fig. 5), one between the third and fourth pick (Fig. 6) and one between the fourth pick and recurring first pick (Fig. '7). Due to the fact that the reinforcement cords 9 and Ii) have a greater thickness or radius than the warp threads l-34, resulting in a greater area of contact where the weft threads cross or interlace, the piling up is greatest in these outer edge reinforcement cords, which is extremely desirable because the outer edge reinforcement imparts to the tape a substantial part of its structural strength and because it is, obviously, desirable that the tape shall be longest at its outer edge. In the embodiment illustrated, the variation i length between the outer and intermediate zones' the cords or various zoning arrangements other than that illustrated.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merely illustrative and in no wise limiting and that I desire to comprehend wihin my invention such modifications as are included within the scope of the appended claims.

V Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a-slide fastener tape, a. plurality of longitudinally extending warps including one or more of relatively large size along the outer edge of the tape and weft threads extending across the tape and interwoven therewith, the interlacings or crossings of said weft threads being more concentrated in the region of said large cords resulting in a greater pile-up of the Weft threads along that edge than in the other portions of the tape, whereby a curve is imparted to the tape without resort to abonormal tensions or twists of the warp threads.

2. Ina tape for slide fasteners of the class described, a plurality of longitudinally extending relatively small warp threads, a plurality of relatively larger warp threads arranged along one or the inner edge of said tape so as to provide a beaded edge therealong for attachment of fastener elements thereto, one or more relatively large warp threads arranged along the opposite or outer edge of said tape and at least another relatively large warp thread arranged intermediate the edges so as to divide the tape into a plurality of longitudinally extending zones, and' a continuous weft thread interwoven back and forth, through and between all of said warp threads, each pick of said weft threads extending substantially throughout the width of the tape and interwoven in such a manner that the interlacings or crossings of the weft threads with the warps are more concentrated in the zone between the intermediate larger warp thread and the outer edge than in'the zone between the intermediate larger warp thread and the inner or beaded edge, thereby resulting in a greater pileup of the weft thread in the area or zone along the outer edge portion of the tape than in the zone or area along the inner edge portion thereof, whereby a natural curved tape having a fixed radius is provided.

3. In a tape for slide fasteners of the class described, a plurality of longitudinally extending relatively small warp threads, a plurality of relatively larger warp threads arranged along one or the inner edge of said tape so as to provide a beaded edge therealong for attachment of fastener elements thereto, one or more relatively large warp threads arranged along the opposite or outer edge of said tape, a plurality of similar relatively large warp threads arranged intermediate the edges of the tape and spaced from each other so as to divide the tape into a plurality of longitudinally extending zones, and a continuous weft thread interwoven back and forth through and between all of said warp threads, each pick of said weft threads extending substantially throughout the width of the tape with the weft threads interwoven in such a manner that the interlacings or crossings of the weft threads with the warps are more concentrated in the zone between the outer edge and the adjacent intermediate relatively large warp thread than in any of the other zones thereby resulting in a greater pile-up of the weft thread in the area or zone along the outer edge portion of the tape than in any other zone or area whereby a natural curved tape having a fixed radius is provided.

4. In a slide fastener tape, a plurality of longitudinally extending warps and weft threads extending across the tape and interwoven therewith, each pick of said weft threads extending substantially throughout the width of the tape,

alternate picks of the weft threads extending over one and under one of the warps and the pick of the weft threads between said alternate weft threads extending over two and under two of the warps except in that portion of the tape along the outer edge thereof where said weft threads extend over one and under one of the warps in each pick with the weft threads and warps along the outer edge portion being constructed and arranged so that the interlacings or crossings of the weft threads along the outer edge portion are more concentrated than in any other portion of the tape, thereby resulting in a greater pile-up of the weft threads along that edge portion than in the other portions of the tape, whereby a natural curve is imparted to the tape without resort to abnormal tensions or twists of the warps.

5. In a slide fastener tape, a plurality of warp threads including a plurality of relatively large warp threads along one edge and at spaced points intermediate the edges, and weft threads extending across the tape and interwoven therewith, each pick of said weft threads extending substantially throughout the width of the tape, said weft threads being interwoven with the warps in such a manner and the weft threads and warps being constructed and arranged so that the interlacings or crossings of the weft threads along the outer edge of the tape are more concentrated along the outer edge portion than in any other portion of the tape, thereby resulting in a greater pile-up of the weft threads along that edge portion so that said outer edge is greater in length than the other portions of the tape, whereby a natural curve is imparted to the tape without resort to abnormal tensions or twists of the warps.

6. In a slide fastener tape, a plurality of longitudinally extending Warp threads and a plurality of relatively large warp threads along the inner edge to provide a beaded edge for attachment of fastener elements, a pair of such larger warp threads along the opposite or outer edge, and a plurality of such larger threads spaced apart intermediate the edges so as to provide guide lines dividing the tape into at least three zones, weft threads extending across the tape and interwoven therewith, each pick of said weft threads extending substantially throughout the width of the tape, said weft threads being interwoven with the warps in such a manner that the interlacings or crossings of the weft threads with the warps are more concentrated in the zone along the outer edge portion than in the other zones, thereby resulting in a greater pile-up of the weft threads in said outer zone, whereby a fixed radius curve is imparted to the tape without resort to abnormal tensions or twists of the warps.

NOEL J. POUX. 

